I read with interest the article by Daphne Caruana Galizia entitled “Consider this carefully” (TMIS, 12 June). The argument the columnist made was fully expressed in the second paragraph where she wrote: “The fact that conception is through IVF rather than through straightforward sex does not affect this established principle of human rights.”

The idea that conception is an established right is not quite correct, and is even disputed by some, starting with none other than the Catholic Church. For example, Church teaching in Donum Vitae, issued on 22 February 1987 by the Congregation For The Doctrine Of The Faith and written by the then Cardinal Ratzinger, has this to say: “Marriage does not confer upon the spouses the right to have a child, but only to perform those natural acts which are per se ordered to procreation.” (Donum Vitae)

No one, not even perfectly sane and physically healthy married couples have a right to conceive. The right they have is to be able to perform the conjugal act. At first these might seem harsh words but the reasons for this which the Church sets forth are quite sensible: “A true and proper right to a child would be contrary to the child’s dignity and nature. The child is not an object to which one has a right, nor can be considered as an object of ownership: rather a child is a gift” (Donum Vitae)

The difference between having a right to conceive and having a right to perform the conjugal act leads to both different attitudes and conclusions. The former takes no notice of the rights and dignity of a child but rather places the emphasis on the parents. The latter, although harder to come to terms with, especially for sterile couples, places the emphasis on the full expression of marriage while preserving all the rights of any potential children. Which rights does a child have? The document says: “For this reason, the child has the right, as already mentioned, to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents; and he also has the right to be respected as a person from the moment of his conception.”(Donum Vitae)

This of course excludes IVF altogether.

For anyone, irrespective of his/her beliefs, who would like to have a look at Donum Vitae, it can be found at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/index.htm

Adrian Porter

BIRKIRKARA